LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola junior Danielle Calbeck has been named the winner of the 2011 Women's Arthur Ashe, Jr. Leadership & Sportsmanship Award by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

The Intercollegiate Tennis Association honors a man and a women tennis player from NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA, and JUCO for in four categories at both the Regional and National level. The awards are Player to Watch, Rookie of the Year, Senior of the Year, and the Arthur Ashe Jr Collegiate Award for Sportsmanship and Leadership.

The recipients of the National Award winners for the Arthur Ashe Jr Collegiate Award for Sportsmanship and Leadership are flown to New York City by ITA/USTA and assist at Arthur Ashe Kids day at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center during the US Open. In the past they also had a luncheon with the former Major of New York City, President of USTA, and the Director of ITA, then were treated to a match... all compliments of USTA & ITA.

Calbeck, has been a three-year team representative of Biola's BAM (Biola Athletic Ministry) program, a time when athletes gather with the intent of ministering to each other and holding one another accountable. Her coach believes "that's the kind of consistency that the new players need to see." Through BAM, alternative chapel is arranged for both interested athletes and students on campus and in this year's case, focusing on service not only on the Biola campus, but also the surrounding community.

In addition to BAM, Calbeck participates in the Event Society at Biola, where a group of students help plan and run events on campus. With volunteer experiences such as serving as an intern for the junior high students in church and creating service opportunities for a group on a San Diego mission trip, this unselfish student-athlete was a natural when given the annual opportunity to work with those suffering from spinal bifida.

"Danielle Calbeck is described by her teammates as an amazing person," said Head Coach Dee Henry. "She inspires others by the way she lives her life, putting the needs of others before those of her own. Her life of service is similar to the ideals of Arthur Ashe and that is why she is such a good fit for this award."

Biola also hosts an annual Campus Kids Day event, welcoming kids from the community to play with and learn tennis from collegiate athletes. These opportunities are what this Ashe winner looks forward to -- learning how to connect with students and those in need.